The Book Eaters

by Sunyi Dean · 2022

The Book Eaters is a gothic fantasy novel centered on Devon Fairweather, a member of a secret, reclusive clan living on the Yorkshire Moors. These beings survive by consuming books, retaining all the knowledge contained within the pages they eat. While the men of the family are raised on stories of adventure and valor, the women are restricted to a diet of fairy tales and cautionary narratives, preparing them for lives as commodities in arranged marriages. Devon's life takes a dark turn when she gives birth to her son, Cai, who possesses a rare and terrifying hunger for human minds rather than books. As she navigates a patriarchal society defined by sacrifice, betrayal, and rigid control, Devon must fight to protect her son and escape the oppressive traditions of her family.